Belarus’ Interior Minister: average crime rate lowest in last decade

The indicator of the average crime rate per 100,000 population is the lowest for the last 10 years – as noted by Belarus’ Interior Minister Ivan Kubrakov at today’s press conference dedicated to the Belarusian Militia Day

Speaking in general about the state of the criminogenic situation in the country in 2024, Mr. Kubrakov said that it was characterised by a decrease in the number of registered crimes.

“The number of criminal offences under criminal investigation decreased by almost one third. The number of murders, intentional infliction of grievous bodily harm, hooliganism, car thefts, thefts, robberies and plunders has decreased. In thirty years, the number of registered crimes has decreased by almost 40 percent. At the same time, plunders, attempted rapes and thefts from cars have decreased by more than 90 percent. This is the result of the work of both the prevention agencies and our citizens,” the Lieutenant General said.

The press conference also touched on the number of cybercrimes. There is also a positive trend here: in the first two months of 2025, the number of cybercrimes fell by 10 percent.

“The increase in cybercrime started from 2018. In 2021-2022, the growth was several times higher. It was in Belarus that the first steps to combat cybercrime began to be taken, with various schemes developed. As for the CIS countries, the first vertical service to combat cybercrime was created in Belarus. So far, it has proved its worth. In the first two months of 2025, we have seen a 10 percent decrease in the number of cybercrimes,” Belarus’ Interior Minister said.

Effective preventive work and the creation of new automated systems that allow internal affairs officers to block the transfer of stolen money abroad have helped to reverse the upward trend that has been observed for several years.